l.Jainism is one of the most ancient religions based on non-violent and
humanitarian approach towards all beings. It is an indigenous religion
originated and developed on Indian soil with a profound
progressive attitude and judicial understanding and philosophical
indispensable necessities of the time. Jinas and Tirthankaras who
conquered the senses and worldly desires and attained the perfect
knowledge and eternal happiness through observing the right
asceticism for welfare of all animate. They are the builders of the
ford, which leads across the ocean of suffering. They taught moral
causation stating that have a humanitarian attitude and exhaust the
bad actions of past by severe practices and asceticism. Their
religion is called Jainism and its followers are called Jainism. In
early period they were called Sramanas (Ascetics) and their
tradition is named as Sramanic tradition.
Meaning of Asceticism in Jainism
2. Asceticism is originally a Greek word, which means training.
The "athlete" was one trained and one might be an "athlete" in
virtue. Since very early the ascetic became the spiritual athlete of
Church history. Two quite different conceptions are mingled in the
history of asceticism. One of these preserves the original meaning
of discipline of the body for some ultimate purpose as when William
James urges sacrifice to God and duty as the means of training the
will (Psychology, vol.ii, p.322). The other conception distrusts
body altogether. Asceticism has then as its function, and not the
training, but the destroying of the body or the negation of its
importance (Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, edited by John A.
Selble, Vol. ii, p.63). Hence Asceticism should be taken to mean �
the form of religious life led by those who having separated
themselves entirely from the world live in solitude."1 Another word
Monasticism is used in this regard which is derived from the Greek
word "alone", solitary from which the whole family of words has been
formed: monks, monastic nun, monasticism and monarchism (ERC.Vol.2,
p.69). It means asceticism and monasticism go together in religious
sphere.
3. Primarily asceticism consists in the contradiction of natural
desires under the mandate of some ideal set by the will before the
life. Then every system of morals enforces the discipline of the
will and developed its methods of spiritual exercises. Afterwards
dualistic asceticism linked with a distinct attitude towards life.
In this thought material body is inherently evil and the spiritual
eternal is alone good. This is the metaphysical dualism, which
separates soul and body, God and world and reaches to Nirvana or
Moksa.
4. As regards ascetic practices in Jainism, they are collectively
called as Tapes, which have a systematic line of action pursued to
gain the distinctive end. It is the essence of asceticism and
asceticism is the ideal of Jainism. It has three forms: I) Samana
which means equanimity, 2) Samana which means self-control, and 3)
Sramana which means strive. There is no spiritual improvement
without persistent and sincere efforts in the right direction. This
has been mentioned in the Pali Tripitaka and its commentaries at
length. Jain asceticism is not in fact a self-torturing religion,
but it is the religion of penance rested on right faith, right
knowledge and right conduct (Ratnatraya) which is the path of
purification and emancipation from all karmas .The etymology of
word "Tapa" itself means self-mortification through right actions.
5. Non-violence along with chastity was its fundamental
characteristic based on asceticism from the very start. Although the
asceticism or Tapa is opposed to sexuality and fertility, but it is
itself a powerful creative force, the generative power of ascetic
heat. Therefore Jainism may be called a religion of asceticism
(Sramanism). The Dighanikaya, Majjhimanikaya and other Texts of
early Pali Tipitaka also mention its ascetic characteristic. The
word "Nigantha" (unattached one or unclothed without and free from
all worldly bonds and its within) is there used exclusively for
Jaina ascetics indicating their way of asceticism. . It is not only
associated with Tirthankara Mahavira or Nigantha Nataputta but his
predecessors Parswanatha and Rsabhadeva also.
6. The term "Jainism" itself connotes the meaning of asceticism. It is derived
from "Jina" meaning conqueror of senses, the spiritual
victor, and an honorific, similar to Buddha, by which its multiple propagators
are known as Jainas. They are in number the little over three million (i.e. 3.15
million= 0.48% of the total population according to the Census of India of
1981). The population is not much increased during last two decades. The Jaina
organizations,
however offer different figures going into fifteen millions. Jainas
live in all parts of India and also abroad. But in fact, it was not
much propagated outside the Greater Indian sub-continent.7. The
objective of present essay is to highlight the conspicuous feature
and discerning appreciation of Jainism in general and asceticism in
particular. It will also give a glimpse picture of its positive
contribution to human life concerned with the comprehension of rich
heritage of social, cultural, religious, spiritual and human values.
Its antiquity, esoteric philosophy and spirituality, ritualistic
aspects in practice, literature, language and culture will manifest
its contribution to the human values. In fact, Jainism has been in
existence with vedic religion as an independent religion since
inception. It also co-existed with Buddhism and its historical part
in India. Therefore, its interaction between them finds ample
references to in the early literature like Rgveda, Atharvaveda,
Samhitas, Upanisadas, Puranas and Pali, Prakrit and Buddhist
Sanskrit, literature.